| Former IV opiate addict here. Medication is great and important for breaking the physical addiction. But it does nothing to resolve the mental health issues that led to the dependence in the first place. Buprenorphine helped me get into a state where I could deal with my mental health issues with a professional. But until I began to deal with the mental stuff, I was still very unwell. Addiction is transitive, it pops up in new and unexpected ways. Discontinuation of use is only a small aspect of recovery. Don't get me wrong, I think what you are doing is great. Access to medication is definitely an issue in the USA. But in Canada, we have easy access to addiction doctors in urban areas, and we haven't ended addiction yet. A big part of the problem is general ignorance. Most people still think addiction is a moral issue. Shame and guilt are fuel for addiction. So hiding away and getting help in secret compounds the problem both for the individual and society at large. When people start to see that it affects many people close to them, that is when the stigma is destroyed. You wouldn't say you are too busy to get treatment for any other life-threatening condition. All treatment centers are not alike. Some are downright harmful. There is a heady mix of science, mysticism, greed and benevolence. There can be benefits: removal from environmental stressors, reduces shame by showing you are not alone, learning about the neuroscience of addiction, bonding with people over a common struggle, a chance to feel good about yourself. The human mind loves to simplify things. Oversimplify and your model does not reflect reality. Recovery from addiction and underlying mental health issues is not a simple process. It requires a multifaceted approach, strong personal support and constant honest self-evaluation. It requires letting go of shame and guilt. It also requires, of course, discontinuation of use and withdrawal management. I could go on and on about my experiences and what they have taught me. One day I might write it down. I want nothing more than to make the road a bit easier for others. I have spent thousands of hours trying to distill what I have learned into some sort of essential truths. I haven't got there yet. I'm going to have to stop myself there. To anyone out there interested, my email is in my profile. To anybody struggling out there right now: Be kind to yourself. Find your own path and make your own honest definition of success. I found keeping track of days of abstinence to be actively harmful. It resulted in more severe and longer relapses. So I stopped counting. Some said this was bad, but they were wrong because it worked for me. I identified that the shame and guilt of "losing" all those days was more harmful than motivating. It's been a long journey, I couldn't have done it without the support of family. I wouldn't change a thing though because I finally like myself. Addiction is a symptom. Treat the symptom while working to address the underlying causes. Thank you for your work. |